NGD....1957 American Vintage FSR Strat

Found an amazing deal for a brand new, '57 FSR AVRI Strat in Candy Apple Red. Let's just say I obtained it for the same price as an American Standard (I also don't like the American Standard strats). It will come fully setup to my liking.

It's time to sell my Squier 70s Vintage Modified strat. It always goes out of tune during playing. I figured it was time to upgrade since I do like to have the strat sound around from time to time, and I'm going to need a stage-worthy strat soon. :)

I'm hoping that the AVRI strats stay in tune pretty well with some basic tremolo work (Pink Floyd) compared to the squier ones.

I have a '52 AVRI Tele. I consider it to be one of the greatest guitars in my collection as far as quality is concerned. I'm assuming the '57 AVRI Strat will blow me away too.

I'm thinking right out of the box this thing will be ready to do some Floyd.

You guys ever play on a '57 AVRI?

You guys ever play on a '57 AVRI?

Yes, for the past 20 years. I'm satisfied, obviously.

That's a great deal for a 57 AVRI, especialy the Candy Apple Red model. I'm in the market for a new Strat, I've been looking at the 57'. I'd like to buy one used though. I just can't see myself spending $1800 on one guitar. I could easily spend a grand though. Enjoy your new Strat, you have me GASing even more.

PM me if you want the contact info for the shop. They still have the used one (looks brand new...the USA sticker is still on it), and they probably have another new one. You wouldn't spend much over $1,000 for either one. You could probably get the used one for $1,000 even shipped.

Looks like these are the same as an AVRI '57. I pretty much knew that, but it's basically a new color and a different neck plate.

I'm really hoping to be impressed. I hold Fender's AVRI line nearly to the top. Even though I got my Squier VM strat professionally setup with some near-tremolo locking (luthier want to keep it as stable as possible with only minor floating), I had to tune the damn thing after every song during one gig. Sometimes I had to tune it during a song. That was a fun gig...I managed to run the strat through the paces just fine though, but never again. I like the sound of three springs opposed to four. I haven't tried running the Squier through the paces with four springs.

How's the tuning stability on the '57s? The shop is going to dial it in the same way my luthier did. I'm hoping I can do some Floyd (simple tremolo) on this thing without it going haywire. I did exactly what my luthier said to not do: "don't get a six-point tremolo. Stay away." But I kept seeing images of Gilmour using one. Many players use a six point. Couldn't resist!

That back plate is coming off when I get it. I had put the plate back on my Squier today (listed it on Craigslist), and strummed around on it. I totally miss that belly vibration and that extra "oompf" in sound/volume.

From what it sounds like you're after, you should probably pick up one of the short tremolo arms like Gilmour uses.

The waiting game continues.

I just learned that Gilmour uses the same exact guitars- he uses a '57 and a '52 reissue.

God I knew that the AVRIs are top notch instruments.

Guitar just came in.

I'm now more certain that the AVRI line of guitars are legendary. The guitar is absolutely fantastic and flawless. I took the back plate off. :)

Willcut Guitars are fantastic, PLEASE don't hesitate to buy from them. They really did do a nice full setup. I only tuned it once, and played 30 minutes of Floyd w/ tremolo. Didn't need to tune it again. The tuning is VERY stable! I'm just impressed.

The only thing that wasn't of expectation is the bridge pickup. It's very mild and quacky. I'm a vintage-pickup guy (my '58 Les Paul and my '52 Tele AVRI use vintage pickups, but they still have plenty of "oompf" to get some really strong tones...I would NEVER replace them). With the strat, even with two of my dirt boxes activated, it's pretty mild.

I'm going to play on it for the next two weeks, and then see if I want to do anything with the bridge pickup. Make it a bit more silky, hotter, but still keep the nice transparent vintage tone. This would probably be more of a question at the strat-talk forum.

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I did 1 hour of Hendrix (moderate tremolo use) and a half-hour of Floyd (light use).

After playing without tuning, I was dead on key with my tuner. WOW! I must congratulate Willcutt Guitars for a damn amazing setup (and deal). I was really worried about what my luthier told me about staying away from the six point tremolos. I must admit that I'm thinking he was wrong. If you set these things up correctly, they will hold their tune VERY VERY well...as good as a hard tail IMO.

The neck pickup is great. You can get some good blues and SRV with it..has just enough grit/dirt, but not too much. The middle pickup is just right to me and not as hollow as the American Standards. The bridge pickup I'm going to say it a little too lightweight for my taste. May be grabbing the Seymour Duncan SSL-5 tomorrow from a shop in town for a "hotter" but still, vintage-sounding bridge upgrade.

Stay away from the 6? I wonder how many rockers just roller over in their graves....

That's a nice, nice strat.

I picked one of these up about a month ago from Guitar Center for $1080.00. Really nice guitar. I shielded the cavities and it's nice and quiet...

Nice! Since the SSL-5 is on it's way, the pickguard is going to have to come out, obviously. I'm wondering if this is the best time to shield the cavity. Are there any instructions with pictures that I can use to do this?

I'm going to ignore the 5-way switch for now. Been enjoying the 3-way.

Real cool.

Very nice! I live candy apple red!

I've got a '62 AVRI which I totally love, but that thing is giving me some damn GAS.

On the tremolo staying in tune, mine floats and stays in tune as well or better than my '83 Tele. And I've been amazed that my AVRI can stay in tune for 24 hours in the summer in a house that's going up and down in temperature. I use the Carl Verheyen (staggered claw) method with great success (thanks TDPRI forum):

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Very nice video!

The strat is relatively great at tunning, and from the back, it looks like it was setup like what the dude was saying in the video (string tension to spring tension) because the spring length/screws are staggered in the back.

However, I do note that sometimes that strings catch at the nut, but this was after months of playing (grime buildup that I don't clean). I typically like to use lead/graphite in the channels before I string, but didn't do so yet on this guitar. I think I need to restring my guitar and reassess, but I've been very happy with the tunning stability with the abuse I've given to it.

Here's some videos of me stratting it up. Keep in mind I use to hate strats. None of these are perfect, and I always do continue to work out kinks in these solos. That's why I hate recording because i look at it several months later going, "man, I can play that so much better now!":

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The guitar came "set up" (I'd say by how well it stayed in tune, I would say it did), but I still haven't dropped it by my Luthier for a final check (who always seems to make intonation tweaks). I think the intonation can be adjusted a little bit. I probably shouldn't be recording with 3-month old crusty strings, either. If you look close at the coming back to life video, my fretboard is covered in gunk...haha. I'm lazy.

nice congrats!